SAN FRANCISCO / Civic Leaders Call for Hormel Vote in Senate

Published 4:00 am, Friday, September 18, 1998

A coalition of leading San Franciscans urged the U.S. Senate's Republican leadership yesterday to allow the ambassadorial nomination of James Hormel to come to a vote.

President Clinton nominated the San Franciscan, heir to a meat- packing fortune and a longtime Democratic donor, to serve as ambassador to Luxembourg. But a vote has been held up because some Republican members object to Hormel's participation in the gay rights movement.

"We are making our voices heard to the Trent Lotts of the world," Mayor Willie Brown said, referring to the Senate majority leader.

"Those standing in the way of his nomination should step aside," he added.

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.